Calling on Code Enforcement
EHC Partners With National City to Eliminate Lead Hazards

Everyday, code enforcement officers in cities throughout San Diego County have access to homes that pose some of the greatest risks for lead poisoning.  But while many homes that contain building

EHC Promotoras conducted lead hazard inspections of  40 homes in Sherman Heights and National City as part  of the EHC Lead SALTA program.

code violations also contain lead hazards, inspections for lead-based paint hazards have not been part of code enforcement protocol.

As reported in the January 2001 issue of the Toxinformer, data from EHC’s lead survey showed the risks of lead poisoning are high both in National City and in Sherman Heights. This is consistent with national data that shows that children from low-income families are five times more likely to suffer from lead poisoning.

Based on the age of National City’s housing stock, more than 6,000 units occupied by low and moderate-income families may contain lead-based paint and as many as 15 percent of National City’s children will be lead poisoned unless an aggressive poison prevention strategy is implemented.

Addressing the Problem

For Kathleen Trees, Director of National City’s Building and Safety Department, this is unacceptable.  In an effort to address this problem, Trees has created the Community Code Enforcement Pilot Project, funded by the California Department of Housing and Community Development.  
The Pilot Project will create a community code enforcement team consisting of code enforcement officers, a community relations health officer, property owners and neighborhood residents and tenants. As part of the pilot program, EHC’s Promotoras will conduct cross training with National City Code Enforcement Staff on identifying potential lead hazards and other conditions that could contribute to lead hazards. The Promotoras also will partner with code enforcement staff to create joint inspection teams as part of the BSD’s commitment to inspecting the entire city.

 “The City of National City is very excited to be working with Environmental Health Coalition on our Housing Inspection Program. We are looking forward to helping the many rental families in the community enjoy a better quality of life,” Trees said.

Code enforcement inspection teams will start in three National City neighborhoods, one north of Division Street, one west of Interstate 5 and one east of the Lincoln Acres area. Code enforcement staff determined these areas to be most at risk for code enforcement problems based on the age and condition of the homes. The teams plan to do visual exterior inspections of 200 homes and will perform interior inspections with tenant permission.  Securing the permission to conduct the interior inspection is critical: In half of the homes that passed the exterior visual inspections in EHC’s lead survey, sampling revealed the presence of lead hazards that could pose a danger to children.

Code enforcement teams who find existing hazards cannot force property owners to correct the hazard. Enforcement teams instead will work to develop good working relationships with landlords and tenants and educate them on the dangers associated with lead. The teams will be asking for voluntary compliance to address lead hazards and will provide resources and training on lead-safe practices.   

Reaching Out to a Community at Risk

 In February and May of 2002, EHC will co-sponsor two community forums with National City code enforcement staff for residents of National City. EHC organizers and National City BSD staff will notify the community with dates, times and locations of the forums. Along with information on economic lead-safe practices for do-it-yourselfers, the forums will include information on the types of code violations tenants should be aware of, materials on tenants rights and information on obtaining legal counsel.

Patricia Balderama, one of EHC’s National City Promotoras, said her role in the pilot project will allow her to address one of the most difficult problems facing her community. “Participating in this project will enable me to take action to help my community, my friends, and my family.  I will be able to provide them with information about their rights and what they can do to make their homes lead safe,” Balderama said. She also praised the training provided to her by EHC’s Lead team. “They have helped us to relate housing problems to health.”

Eighteen Promotoras, including nine from National City, successfully completed the training provided by EHC on how lead impacts health and how to reduce lead exposure. The Promotoras learned the role of proper nutrition, learned how to advocate for tenant rights and developed the skills to conduct a lead home inspection and take actual samples of paint chips, soil and dust. As part of the program, the  Promotoras conducted inspections of 40 homes in the communities of Sherman Heights and National City. Four of the National City Promotoras will be participating in the pilot program.

Beyond Education

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental health threat to children under 6 years-old. It can result in reduced IQ, learning disabilities, behavioral problems, hyperactivity and increased aggression. Childhood lead poisoning can lead to behavior problems that last a lifetime. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 11 to 37 percent of arrested delinquents have been found to have had chronic low-level lead exposure. 

 “Code enforcement departments can help thousands of children by identifying homes with lead hazards and educating residents and landlords,” said Leticia Ayala, Coordinator of EHC’s Lead Poisoning Prevention project. “But the threats to our children’s health are too serious to leave to voluntary compliance. To really solve the problem, code enforcement departments need the authority to require the elimination of these lead hazards and cities need to come up with money to help low income families do this.”

Calling for Change

Through a grant from the Public Health Trust, EHC is working with a network of organizations in California to develop a model policy for cities that makes lead hazard elimination a part of their code enforcement protocol.  Each member of the network is working with a local code enforcement agency.

Key elements of a “zero-tolerance for lead” housing policy include the following:

• Change Health & Safety Codes to classified lead-based paint as a “nuisance” and therefore a violation resulting in a substandard housing designation.

• Authorize code enforcement departments to require elimination of lead hazards. All repairs must follow lead safe removal and renovation practices to ensure that dwellings and tenants are protected from further lead dust.

• Train code enforcement inspectors on the dangers of lead poisoning and in the techniques for identifying lead hazards. Inspectors should educate tenants and landlords about the dangers of lead in appropriate languages. 

• Adopt a building-wide approach, so that identification of one unit with lead hazards will trigger inspection of the entire building.     

• Establish emergency protocols to expedite the process of completing repairs when a pregnant women or child under the age of 6 is a current tenant.

Know Your Rights

EHC believes that everyone has the right to live in decent, safe and healthy homes, and renters should not live in fear of reporting substandard conditions. Check for Government Pages in the phone book for the phone number of your code enforcement department. 

For questions regarding tenants rights, call the San Diego Tenant Legal Center at (858) 571-7100.
Call EHC at (619) 235-0281 for information on reducing lead exposure in your home.